Crawl access and basement window well cover

ABSTRACT

A window well protective cover. The cover has a nonskid surface, and is formed of plastic or fiberglass reinforced plastic in a suitable color. Trimmable cubes are provided along a rear extension of an edge flange, and a trimmable shoulder is provided along a rear extension of the top surface. The trimmable cubes and trimmable shoulder portions allow the cover to be trimmed for tight fitting engagement with an adjacent building structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to window well covers, as typically usedin foundations in residential and light commercial construction, andmore particularly, to covers for window wells that can be easilyprovided in a desired size to provide weather resistant ventilation ofsuch spaces.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In residential and light commercial construction, it is commonpractice to provide a fabricated steel structure to keep earth away froman opening for access to either basement windows, or to a crawl spacebeneath the building structure. Many workable crawl access and basementwindow well wall structures (hereinafter, “window well structures”) havebeen developed thru the years for such applications. In such structures,it is usually important to provide a suitable cover prevent the ingressof rain, as well at to prevent the ingress of vermin such as rats, mice,or other animals. Also, such covers must provide structural capabilityto support humans, to keep them from breaking such a cover and fallinginto a window well when they step on such a cover.

[0003] However, it would still be quite desirable to reduce the overallcosts that must necessarily be incurred in the manufacture anddistribution of covers for such window well structures. Also, laborsaving techniques, or changes in the apparatus which would reduce theoverall cost of installation of such covers would be welcome by thecontractors charged with installing the covers on such window wellstructures.

[0004] We are aware of various attempts in which an effort has been madeto provide an improved cover for window well structures. One of thedesigns which resembles the instant invention to some remote extent isdisclosed by Pearson U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,348, issued May 19,1998 for aWINDOW WELL COVER. He shows a cover for a window well structure that hasa sloping, planar surface with peripheral flanges to fit down overupstanding edges of a window well structure. However, he does notprovide a design that includes the feature of being trimmable forfitting to a selected building structure. Nor does his cover for awindow well structure provide for screened ventilation. Thus, theadvantages of our simple, trimmable, ventilatable cover for a windowwell structure, which is made with portions that can be trimmed in thefield as necessary for providing a desired fit both over a window wellstructure and against a building structure, to provide a strong, weatherproof cover with substantially leak resistant window ventilationstructure, and which is environmentally friendly, are important and selfevident.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0005] In order to enable the reader to attain a more completeappreciation of the invention, and of the novel features and theadvantages thereof, attention is directed to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover over a well ventstructure, where the cover is fabricated in accord with the principlesdisclosed herein, shown in place next to a building structure to protectthe space within a window well structure from the elements.

[0007]FIG. 2 provides a bottom perspective view of a cover, showing atthe rear the trimmable portions, with trim patterns indicated therein,and with cross-bracing within the cover, as well as a protective lowerscreen.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken across a portion of FIG. 1,showing the use of a cover in place over a window well structure, withventilation between the outside and the interior of a window wellstructure.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a cover in place against abuilding structure and over a window well structure.

[0010]FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, and 5I represent alternatecolors for the material used to manufacture the plastic cover for windowwell structures described herein.

[0011] The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain variouselements that may be present or omitted from actual implementationsdepending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw thefigures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that aresignificant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspectsof the invention. However, various other elements of the covers forwindow wells are also shown and briefly described to enable the readerto understand how various features, including optional or alternatefeatures, may be utilized in order to provide a compact, efficientlyconstructible window well cover or crawl space access well structurecover which can be manufactured of a long lasting material in a desiredcolor, and of high strength with minimum weight, using anenvironmentally friendly material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Attention is directed to FIG. 1 of the drawing, where a windowwell structure 10 is shown as placed against a finished foundation wall12 to protect a window (not illustrated) against earth. A cover 20 isprovided over the window well structure 10, to provide safety, as wellas protection against the elements and vermin. Covers 20 as describedherein may be utilized for covering existing window wells in the field,or for covering new window wells as they are installed. Since covers 20sit flat on the upper surface of suitable existing or new window wells10, covers 20 are ideal for protectively covering such wells.

[0013] The cover 20 includes an upper substantially planar topprotective portion 22 of preselected thickness, and rear end 24. Theread rend 24 extends between a first corner 25 ₁ and a second corner 25₂. Extending between first corner 25 ₁ and a second corner 25 ₂, adownwardly projecting flange 26 having a first side 26 ₁, a second side26 ₂, and a front 26 ₃, is provided spaced inwardly a distance L fromthe peripheral edge 28 of the top 22. At the rear end 24, an upperreinforcing portion 30 is provided. At the rearward reaches of first 32and second 34 ends of flange26, a plurality of trimmable blocks 40 areprovided, preferably in cubic shape, located between vertical trim lines42 and horizontal trim lines 44. Spaced inwardly from upper reinforcingportion 30, and spaced toward the front 46 of cover 20 from theinnermost trim line 42, is a rear wall 50. Importantly, the trimmableblocks 40 enable the close fitting of a cover 20 with the details of afoundation, where the cover 20 meets a foundation or siding. AT the rearend of top protective cover portion 22, a trimmable shoulder portion 51is provided in the general shape of a side-by-side set of double Tmembers. However, the bottom of the T portions are, in one embodimentillustrated, truncated and replaced by the trimmable blocks 40 justmentioned above.

[0014] An interior peripheral wall 52 is provided inside of flange 26. Ascreen 54 of suitable dimensions having an edge wall 55 is securedbetween rear wall 50 and interior peripheral wall 52, at groove 57 ininward side of flange wall 26, to effectively seal the spacetherebetween against passage of objects below the selected screen meshsize. As noted in FIG. 3, air as represented by reference arrows 60 isfree to travel outward, and as represented by reference arrows 62, isfree to travel inward

[0015] The cover for window well structure or crawl space access, asdisclosed herein, is ideal for manufacture as an integral, one-piececover structure (without screen) by injection molding of a suitableplastic. During the plastic preparation process, a suitable plastic canbe developed having a color selected from one of the following: colors:(a) red or pink, (b) brown, (c) violet or purple, (d) green, (e) blue,(f) gray or silver, (g) orange, (h) yellow or gold, (i) or black, all asfurther noted in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5A through 5I.

[0016] The cover 20 is preferably made with a ultraviolet resistant andrated plastic, with high strength, and of weather resistant material. Asnoted in FIG. 4, covers are ideally manufactured with a sufficientdownward slope angle alpha from the horizontal line 70 that allows aboutone inch per foot slope away from the structure 12, to detour moistureaway from the foundation and out of crawl spaces and basements. Coversalso should be manufactured with strength to support human weight. Weprefer a structure having a top thickness of at least ¾ inches, and withribs of about ½ inch in transverse cross section. The rib structurenoted in FIG. 2 should be evaluated and confirmed, based on the materialof construction actually selected. Ideally, a criss-cross, block shapedstrengthening rib structure 71 is advantageously employed, extendingbelow the bottom surface 72 of the top protective portion 22. As shownin FIG. 2, transversely running 74 and longitudinally 76 running ribportions are provided. Also, a non-skid texture, as noted in FIG. 1, isadvantageous.

[0017] It is to be appreciated that the various aspects and embodimentsof the cover for crawl space access and for basement window wellstructure as described herein are an important improvement in the stateof the art of structures and materials to cover crawl space access andto cover basement window wells. A plastic cover as described herein isvirtually non-destructible by insects, vermin, and the elements, and iseasily made with adequate strength to support human weight. Importantly,such a cover well is environmentally friendly, in that no metal oxidesare released to the environment as would be the case with steel orgalvanized steel cover structures. Although only a few exemplaryembodiments have been described in detail, various details aresufficiently set forth in the drawings and in the specification providedherein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use theinvention(s), which need not be further described by additional writingin this detailed description. Importantly, the aspects and embodimentsdescribed and claimed herein may be modified from those shown withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided bythis invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, this disclosureis intended to cover the structures described herein and not onlystructural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerousmodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of theappended claims, the invention(s) may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described herein. Thus, the scope of the invention(s), asset forth in the appended claims, and as indicated by the drawing and bythe foregoing description, is intended to include variations from theembodiments provided which are nevertheless described by the broadinterpretation and range properly afforded to the plain meaning of theclaims set forth below.

1. A cover for a window well structure, said cover comprising (a) anupper substantially planar top protective portion of preselectedthickness formed of plastic or fiber reinforced plastic material, saidtop protective portion having an a rear end having a first corner and asecond corner, and a peripheral edge wall extending in a generallyU-shaped configuration between said first corner and said second cornerto define a first side, a front, and a second side of said topprotective portion, said top protective portion having an upper surfaceand a bottom surface; (b) spaced inwardly from said peripheral edgewall, a downwardly extending flange having an exterior flange wall andan interior flange wall; (c) a plurality of strengthening ribs runningfrom rear to said downwardly extending flange.
 2. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein in said plurality of strengthening ribscomprise a set of ribs running lengthwise from said rear to said front,below said bottom surface.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said plurality of strengthening ribs comprise a set of ribsrunning transversely between said first side and said second side, belowsaid bottom surface.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising a protective screen said protective screen affixed adjacentsaid plurality of strengthening ribs and substantially extending betweensaid rear and said interior flange wall, said protective screenincluding a plurality of passageways having gaps therebetween, andadapted for passage of air through said gaps therethrough.
 5. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality oftrimmable blocks, said trimmable blocks extending below said bottomsurface and rearward beyond said rear along a line substantially alignedwith said downwardly extending flange.
 6. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 5, wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in column sets. 7.The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said trimmable blocks areprovided in row sets.
 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, whereinsaid trimmable blocks are provided in both column sets and in row sets,and wherein said trimmable blocks comprise at least in part,substantially cubical trimmable blocks.
 9. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of trimmable shoulder sections,said trimmable shoulder sections extending rearward of said rear walland substantially between said first corner and said second corner. 10.The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said trimmable shouldersections are configured in a side-by-side double T configuration. 11.The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the downward leg of eachof said side-by-side double T configuration is truncated and trimmableblocks are provided therebelow.
 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim1, wherein said window well structure comprises an injection moldableplastic.
 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coveris provided in a color selected from one of the following: (a) red orpink; (b) brown; (c) violet or purple; (d) green; (e) blue; (f) gray orsilver; (g) orange; (h) yellow or gold; (i) black.
 14. The apparatus asset forth in claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said top protectiveportion comprises a non-skid surface.
 15. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 4, wherein (a) said flange wall has a bottom end, and wherein saidinterior flange wall comprises groove spaced upward from said bottomend, and (b) said protective screen comprises an outer edge wall, and(c) wherein said groove is sized and shaped for receiving therein saidedge wall of said protective screen.
 16. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said strengthening ribs comprise a downwardly extendingcriss-cross box shaped web.
 17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said apparatus comprises an integrally molded, one-piece windowwell cover.
 18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said topprotective portion is set an angle alpha, compared to the bottom of saidstrengthening ribs, so that said protective portion sets on a horizontalsubstrate at an outwardly and downwardly protective angle alpha (α). 19.The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said angle alpha (α)provides about one inch per foot of slop outward from said rear of saidcover.
 20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said topprotective portion is provided in a thickness of at least 0.75 inches.21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strengtheningribs are provided with a transverse cross sectional thickness of 0.5inches.